Whether you can keep chickens or livestock in unincorporated Richland County depends on your zoning district under the county Land Development Code (Chapter 26). Agricultural and rural districts allow livestock and poultry; suburban residential districts restrict them. Check your parcel's zoning with Planning & Development.
Richland County zones the unincorporated county under its Land Development Code (LDC, Chapter 26 / adopted Nov. 16), enacted under South Carolina's Local Government Comprehensive Planning Enabling Act (SC Code Title 6, Ch. 29). The LDC establishes zoning districts and sets permitted uses, so keeping chickens, goats, horses, or other livestock is governed by your district's use table rather than a single countywide chicken rule. Rural and agricultural districts broadly permit livestock and poultry; denser residential zones limit or prohibit them. South Carolina's Right-to-Farm Act (SC Code Chapter 46-45) protects established agricultural operations. Because rules vary by parcel, the county directs residents to confirm with the Planning & Development Department. Cities such as Columbia set separate limits (Columbia allows up
Zoning violations in unincorporated areas are enforced by Richland County Planning & Development; typically notice, abatement, and civil penalties for keeping animals not permitted in your district.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Columbia, SC
Columbia prohibits dogs that bark excessively and disturb neighbors. Columbia Animal Services handles complaints about nuisance barking.
Columbia, SC
Columbia regulates noise under Chapter 8, Article III (Noise) of the Code of Ordinances. The city prohibits unreasonable noise that disturbs the peace, with ...
Columbia, SC
Columbia requires vehicles to be parked on improved surfaces. Parking on unimproved areas in residential zones is a code violation.
Columbia, SC
Columbia regulates on-street parking with time limits, metered downtown areas, and restrictions near hydrants and intersections.
Columbia, SC
Columbia restricts parking of large commercial vehicles in residential areas through zoning regulations.
Columbia, SC
South Carolina does not require neighbor consent to build a fence. Fences must be within property lines. SC has no general fence cost-sharing statute.
See how Columbia's chickens & livestock rules stack up against other locations.
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